Best way to travel from Venlo Netherlands to Paris?

I’m going to be in Venlo in the Netherlands for business for a week in June. At the end of the week, on Friday (late afternoon / early evening), I wanted to travel to Paris to spend the weekend there with friends.

What’s the best way to get from Venlo to Paris?

I’ve looked at trains as one possibility, but it seems pretty confusing, with a few train changes, and I wouldn’t get in until 23:00 if I left at 17:00.

Would there be some combination of train or bus to get myself over to Brussells or Duesseldorf, and then take a flight from there to Paris?

Is there some route that I’m not thinking about that would be easier / better / cheaper?

I won’t be too pressed for time, but I also don’t want to get in real late at night to Paris since I’ve never visited and I really don’t know my way around (until I link up with my friends on Saturday).

Thanks!